The Rise of AI Lobbying
The landscape of artificial intelligence lobbying in the United States is experiencing a significant surge. As the generative AI boom continues and the nation approaches a pivotal election year, the number of groups lobbying the federal government on AI-related issues has increased from 459 in 2023 to 556 in the first half of 2024.
Key Developments in AI Lobbying
- OpenAI has dramatically increased its lobbying expenditures, spending $800,000 in the first six months of 2024 compared to $260,000 in all of 2023.
- Anthropic is on track to spend half a million dollars on lobbying over the next few months, already investing $250,000 in its five-lobbyist team in 2024.
- Even smaller AI firms like Cohere are committing substantial funds to lobbying efforts, increasing its spend from $70,000 in 2023 to $120,000 in the first half of 2024.
- AI companies are expanding their lobbying teams, with OpenAI growing from three consultants last year to around 15 in the first half of 2024.
The Broader Context
The intensification of AI lobbying efforts comes at a critical juncture. With the upcoming presidential election, the leading nominees have expressed divergent views on AI regulation. Vice President Kamala Harris aligns with President Biden’s stance on federal oversight, while former President Trump advocates for deregulation. Simultaneously, the absence of comprehensive federal AI legislation has led to a proliferation of state-level AI laws, with nearly 400 proposed this year alone. As AI companies face potential antitrust cases from U.S. regulators, their increased lobbying efforts reflect the industry’s attempt to shape the regulatory landscape in their favor.
